Cardinal connection

One of the new cardinals of the Roman Catholic church named today by Pope Benedict XVI has a Los Angeles past. Archbishop William J. Levada, the pope's successor as head of the Vatican office that upholds church doctrine, was born in Long Beach and served as an auxiliary bishop in the Los Angeles Archdiocese. His elevation means that three U.S. cardinals have local roots. Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia was raised in South Los Angeles. And of course Cardinal Roger Mahony of the L.A. archdiocese grew up in the Valley—in North Hollywood. All three cardinals were classmates at St. John's Seminary up in Camarillo.